Charles r



(No Model,)

0. R. WHITTIER. ELECTRIC PUMP GOVERNOR.

No. 497,563. Patented May 16,1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. IVHITTIER, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC PUMP-GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,563, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed August 8, 1892. Serial No, 442,410. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Y Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. VVHITTIER, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Pump-Governors, of which the following is a specification.

I provide means for automatically starting and stopping the pump, and automatically applying power for starting the same as the pressure in the discharge pipe of the pump is above or below the proper amount. A diaphragm shifted by the varying pressure of the water effects this end, and I insure that the changes of pressure will with certainty shift the switchto the proper extent in one direction and the other as starting and stopping is required. The diaphragm acts through an easily moved valve to admit, hold stationary, and release water under a plunger connected to the switch,-the plunger traversing across a series of contactpieces, and being arranged to move slowly in the direction to apply the current, thus avoiding the injurious effects experienced with some forms of electric motors in applying a strong current suddenly with the motor at rest. I provide for causing the plunger to rise and sink at an adjustable rate so that the current may be applied with any required degree of slowness. The invention allows the current to be switched off with any required degree of rapidity in stopping.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the entire apparatus. The remaining figures show portions thereof. Fig.2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an elevation seen from the left in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the diaphragm and some of the adjacent parts. The remaining figures show modifications. All are side elevations. Fig. 5 shows Fig. 8

shows provisions for inducing a corresponding effect by springs acting on two links engaged with a cross-bar in the link.

I Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they appear.

A is a fixed framing and A an electric motor, which may be of any of the approved varieties, giving motion through a small pulley or pulleys, to a belt A which communicates motion through a pulley B to a crank-shaft B, which by its crank 3 and connection 0 reciprocates the rod d of a horizontal pump D, receiving the water through an ordinary connection D from a pipe D and driving it out at an increased pressure through the pipe D which may lead to any place where water may be required.

The pressure in the pipe D varies according to the varying head or resistance against which the pump may be delivering. My invention provides for completely arresting the pump when a certain pressure in the pipe D is attained, and for starting it again when the pressure of the water in the pipe D sinks below a certain degree. I provide for insuring that the starting and stopping shall be certain, however slowly the degree of pressure is reached at which the action should be initiated.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4. and 5, a pipe E,which maybe considerably smaller than the pipe D maintains a communication between the water within such pipe and a chamber F in which is a yielding diaphragm pressed upward by such water, and urged downward by a loaded lever G, turning on a center at g, and carrying an adjustable weight G, held by a pinching screw G The outer end of this lever G connects to a nearly vertical link I, which is knuckled to a nearly frictionless valve J, made in the form of three cylinders in line, the upper and lowest being so large as to fill the pipe T, and the intermediate part being considerably smaller. This valve works piston-wise in the smoothly bored pipe '1, which latter is provided with three ports, '1", T and T arranged at different levels. The uppermost port T connects to the pipe E and is the admission port. The lower port T at the bottom is the discharge port. The middle port T connects to the interior of a separate vertical cylinder WV, in

which the fluid acts on a plunger K, which latter is guided, as shown, and moves through a stuffing box at the upper end of said cylinder. This plunger may carry an adjustable weight K to discharge water against any head or pressure. When the pressure in the cylinder WV is sufficient to overcome the gravity of the plunger K and its weight K, and also to overcome the friction, these parts will rise. When, on the contrary, the pressure in the cylinder WV is so much reduced that it is insufficient, aided by the friction, to hold up the plunger K and its weight K, these parts will sink until the lower end of the plunger is nearly at the bottom of the interior of the cylinder, l/V.

L is the ordinary curved series of. contactpieces, connected with a set of resistances, not shown, and arranged to serve in the ordinary manner by the wires L, L L with the motor A to start and stop the same.

L and L are wires properly connected, leading to and from adynamo, or othcrsource of electricity, as the street wires connected with one or more dynamos, to supply the electricity.

M is a lever, turning on a center M, and operating a switch M Near the outer end of the lever M is a slot m which receives a pin K fixed adj ustably on the vertically moving plunger K. When the latter rises from its lowest to its highest position, it correspondingly turns the lever M, shifts the switch M from one end to the other of the series of contact-pieces L, and starts the action of the motor and consequently of the pump.

\Vhen the plunger K sinks in consequence of a reduction of pressure in the pipe D it shifts to its lowest position, and turns the lever M downward so as to shift the switcharm M back again to the upper end of the series of contact-pieces L, and the apparatus stops working.

P is a hollow cylinder adapted to tilt on a center P, and having a slotted end 1), which reeeivesapin I set adjustably on thelink I, so that it rises and sinks therewith. The cylinder 1? incloses a ball Qwhich is free to roll from one end to the other of the cylinder, being cushioned at each end bya spring or pad not shown.

Then the pump D has gained upon the pressure or head of water so that the pressure in the pipe D has become excessive, the increased pressure being communicated through the pipe E so that it is felt under the diaphragm in the ehamberF, raises the weighted lever G, and with it the link I and its connections. So soon as the cylinder P has been shifted to a level position and a little farther, the ball Q commences to roll and moves freely to the opposite end of the cylinder, where its gravity, instead of restraining increases the movement of the lever G, and thus conditioned said lever rapidly rises to its highest position. The last part of this upward movement of the lever G elevates the valve J so high that it connects the ports T and T and the water in the cylinder WV is freely discharged. Now the plunger K and its connections being no longer supported except by the slight friction of the stuffing-box and the resistance due to the slow escape of the water, sinks and shifts the switch H quickly upward, stopping the action of the motor A, and the pump.

After the pump has been stopped, for a period which may, under differing circumstances, vary from a few seconds to many days, the reduction of pressure being communicated through the pipe E to the diaphragm chamber F, the loaded lever G is no longer sufficiently supported, and it commences to sink, carrying with it the link I and valve J. In this movement the large lower end of the valve moves slowly past the port T and for a certain period the water can neither escape from nor enter the cylinder W. But so soon as this sinking movement has progressed sufficiently far, it will cause the rolling ball Q, to shift to the opposite end of the cylinder 1, that in which it is shown in Fig. 1. After this movement of the ball, its weight,instead of restraining the motion of the lever G, will hasten it, and the valve J will then quickly and surely descend until it has reached its lowest position. In that position the small portion J of the valve J connects the ports T and T and thus conditioned, the water which is always at a sufficiently high pressure in the pipe T to raise the plunger K if it can be allowed to act thereon, flows past the small portion J of the valve and out through the port T into the cylinder \V, where its pressure is felt by the plunger K, and the latter slowly rises and turns the switch M in the direction to apply the motive force. The current on motor being gradually applied through the resistances, the pump is started and continues to work actively until the pressure in the pipes D and E is again so high as to stop it.

A screw-valve 25 controls the rates at which the water flows into the cylinder to raise the plunger K and start the working of the pump and out of such cylinder to allow the plunger to sink and arrest its motion. The engineer, by closing the valve 15' more or less, controls the rate at which the plunger K will rise when the pressure is too low, and by closing the valve 25 more or less, he can control the rate at which the plunger K will sink when the pressure in the delivery pipe becomes too high. It is generally necessary to open the valve t considerably so that the action of the pump may be arrested rapidly, but the valve '15 should be nearly closed, to give a slow starting speed.

Modifications may be made in the details without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. A

piston working in a cylinder may be used in" stead of a flexible diaphragm in the chamber F; but such will ordinarily involve more fricbelt A2.

The contact lates or ieces corres ondin p 7 t:

' to the curved series L, might be in a direct line and operated directly by the plunger without an intermediate lever, or the switcharm may be completely revolved.

The tilting cylinder P may be modified to a fixed tilting weight of reverse pendulous pattern, or to springs connected as shown, or the moving weight may consist of a weight suspended on a cord, elevated by winding on a drum, or otherwise; but I prefer the weight operated as shown. The arrangement as described above is adapted for a constant potential motor which requires a set of graduated resistances in starting to prevent an excessive current from destroying the arm atn re. In case a constant current motor is used the diaphragm could be connected directly with the ordinary switch without the valve, plunger or resistances. Or the moving weight or spring which stores power may be applied to other parts of the train of mechanism, such as the switch-lever or plunger.

The operation of the plunger and the other parts may be reversed. A four-way valve and double-acting cylinder may be substituted therefor if desired.

Fig. 6 shows a modification applied to a simple switch adapted to a motor of the class which admits without injury of being started from rest with the full force of the current. A lever corresponding to the switch-lever M except that it performs no function in the middle part of its traverse and simply makes connections alternately with the proper contacts at each end of its motion, is connected by a link directly to the loaded lever H, corresponding to G, operated by the diaphragm subject to the varying pressure of the water in the delivery pipe. There is a slot in the the link N which allows a sufficient amount of lost motion. WVhen the diaphragm rises it leaves the switch-lever unmoved until it has risen a little above the central position. A connected lever S turning on a fixed center S carries a ball or weight S mounted on an arm S and adapted to tilt alternately to opposite sides of the center. \Vhen the diaphragm has risen a little above its central position the weight will tend to the other end of its path and contribute its gravity to lift the loaded leverinstead of holding it down. Thus conditioned, the lever will rise rapidly and the slotted link N in the last part of its rising motion will throw the switch-lever into its highest position. When the water pressure is again lowered and the reverse movement occurs, the loaded lever will sink a little past its central position before inducing any movement of the switch-lever. Then theballshiftin g its position by gravity to the same end of its course in which it is shown contributes to hasten the descent of the lever, and in the last part of the descending motion the switchlever is shifted again rapidly intoits original depressed condition.

Fig. 7 shows a lever turning on a fixed center, and connected by a slot to the pin on the mid-length of the link corresponding to 1 in Fig. l and to N in Fig. 6. The action of the spring tends to restrain the movement at the commencement and to effect its completion so soon as the middle pointis passed, having an action analogous to that of the rolling ball in Fig. 1 and the tumbling bob in Fig. 6.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, a fixed horizontal plate or bar is slotted near each end, and engages with links which are pivoted to the link corresponding to I and N. The pivoted links are drawn together by springs. There should be two parallel springs, one on each side of the mechanism in each of the forms shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The speed of switch may also be controlled by a brake or the usual governing devices in place of depending on controlling the flow of the fluid; or both means may be used conjointly.

Some of the advantages of the invention may be attained without the rolling weight Q, or any equivalent, the fact of the employment of the diaphragm as a means of actuating the balanced valve giving sufficient power to effect the movement of the switch with tolerable certainty without the restraint of the movement at the commencement and the aid to the completion of the movement due to the storing of power in such manner. The number of the contact pieces L in the series may be increased or diminished.

I claim as my invention 1. As ameans forcontrolling pumpingmechanism, the combination with an electric motor A and pump D driven thereby, of a switch M a series of electric contact pieces L and connections therefrom to a source of electricity, a controlling diaphragm in the chamber F subject to the pressure of the fluid delivered from the pump, and acting through a balanced valve J, 011 the fluid controllinga plunger K connected to said switch, ail arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified.

2. As ameans for controllingpumping mechanism, the combination with an electric motor A and pump D driven thereby, of a switch M and connections therefrom to a source of electricity, and a diaphragm subject to the pressure of the water, and the moving weight Q, or spring, adapted to insure the movement of the switch into its extreme positions, so as to thereby start and stop the pump at certain periods and maintain an approximately uniform pressure of the water in the delivery pipe, all substantially as herein specified.

3. As ameans for controllingpumping mechanism, the combination with an electric m0- tor A and pump D driven thereby, of a switch M aseries of electric contact pieces L and connections therefrom to a source of electricity, and a, plunger K, balanced valve J, a controlling diaphragm in the chamber F subject to the pressure of the fluid delivered from the pump, and the moving Weight or spring Q adapted to insure the completion of the movements, all arranged for joint opera- [0 tion substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES R. \VI1I'l."IER.

Witnesses:

R. A. MCLEAN, M. F. BOYLE. 

